Pregnancy changes in sugar tags on antibodies
Pregnancy induced deacetylation of sialylated glycoproteins
This work looks at how pregnancy alters chemical tags on antibodies and how those changes affect a mother's ability to pass protection to her newborn.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11228400 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're pregnant, researchers are exploring how pregnancy increases an enzyme (SIAE) that removes a small chemical group from sialic acid sugar tags on antibodies. In mouse models they found that this change helps maternal antibodies protect newborns from bacteria such as Listeria when passed from mother to baby. The team studies the enzyme, the antibody sugar patterns, and how these changes influence immune cell receptors like CD22 to change B cell behavior. The research combines lab analysis of proteins and cells with maternal–neonate transfer models to determine whether similar processes could matter for human pregnancy and newborn infection risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be pregnant people or new mothers and their newborns, particularly those at risk for perinatal infections.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, older children, or those without risk of perinatal infection are unlikely to directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this work applies to people, it could help improve newborn protection by informing maternal vaccine or antibody strategies during pregnancy.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies show maternal IgG can protect neonates and that SIAE alters antibody sialic acid, but translating these findings to human pregnancy is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Way, Sing Sing — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Way, Sing Sing
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.